Three-and-D wings aren't quite as rare as Infinity Stones, but they're coveted with almost the exact importance around the league. The Spurs drafted the prototypical one in Carter Bryant, and the potential for the former Arizona athlete is sky-high. He was chosen to play a role, and even if he never surpasses his floor, he'll be a productive player for the Silver and Black.
This team needed to add more size and athleticism on the perimeter. Bryant is 6'7" with a 6'11" wingspan. We've already seen him use his freakish abilities to stop players emphatically in the Summer League, and while those are only exhibition games, effort on defense translates when the action starts to matter.
The Spurs also needed a guy who could make defenses pay for collapsing into the paint on the stars of the team. Bryant shot 37% from three in college, so he comes in with a strong foundation for what San Antonio is looking for on that side. He doesn't even have to hit his ceiling to be what they need, but if he does, we're talking about a very high-level role player that moves the needle for a title-chasing team.
Carter Bryant's floor is Dorian Finney-Smith
Finney-Smith was drafted in Dallas, and he spent seven years with San Antonio's rival, so most fans are familiar with his game. The former Florida Gator is the exact same size as Bryant: 6'7" with a 6'11" wingspan. He's never been known for his offense, but he's built himself into a threat from beyond the arc, despite only shooting 29% from deep during his rookie season.
Last season, the former Maverick shot 41% from beyond the arc, elevating in the area where he'll be the most impactful. His growth has made him a desirable piece for many teams, but he joined the Houston Rockets after only playing half a season for the Los Angeles Lakers. It's his fourth team in three years, but that's because he was a free agent and chose to leave LA. They would have wanted him back.
You can task Finney-Smith with guarding elite players to give your stars a break. He'll hold up just fine. That's what Carter Bryant will be able to do at a minimum. Guard and hit the open three. Dorian has only averaged 9 points per game in his career, though. Nothing too flashy, but important enough to be a high-demand player who earns lucrative contracts.
OG Anunoby is the ceiling for the Spurs rookie
If Bryant turns into a version of OG Anunoby, this draft class will be looked at as one of the best ones in franchise history. Dylan Harper will have to do his part to live up to his billing, but I don't think anyone has doubt about that. He'll get it done.
Anunoby is one of the best defenders in the game. He can guard positions 1-5, and he just helped the New York Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1999. The ex-Toronto Raptor averaged 18 points per game, and shot 37% from three. The interesting part about Anunoby is that he shot that same percentage in his rookie season, so he hasn't improved on it much.
That doesn't really matter, though, because it's still above league average, and he scores in various ways. The 28-year-old forward from London is too versatile for defenses to think they can just shut him down by cutting off his space on the perimeter. OG has longer arms than Bryant, which is pretty crazy, but he's the same height, so they mostly have the same tools. It's easy to see the comparison.
Whether CB ends up as a Finney-Smith or an Anunoby, the Spurs will be in a great place. It's either a perennial three-and-d guy, or it's that plus a whole lot more. That sounds good to me.